Resistance bands are a great option for any exerciser looking to build muscle, rehab after injury, or work on stabilisation. The best resistance bands are versatile, affordable and easy to store, making them a great choice for travel or home workouts. They’ll also fit into your gym bag if you want to add some extra resistance to your usual routine.
As a personal trainer, I’ve been using resistance bands in my own workouts and with clients for years. There are lots of different options out there; resistance loops are ideal for providing stabilisation in squats or sculpting your glutes. These come in thick fabric options (known as ‘booty bands’) or thinner latex, with the latter also being great for rehab exercises. Elsewhere, longer bands are great for rehab or warm-ups, but also ideal for assisting in pull-ups, and this is how I train clients to get their first one. Then there are resistance tubes, which often come with handles that can be attached to door frames to replicate cable machines.
Different types of resistance bands serve different purposes, so when it comes to choosing what to buy, you need to think about what you’ll use it for. If building muscle is your goal, make sure you have a set that offers a variety of resistance levels. If you’re using them for rehab, you’ll want a lighter set of resistance loops, but if you’re aiming to sculpt those glutes, fabric bands are the ones for you.
I’ve spent the last few weeks testing a range of different bands in my workouts and with clients, and here’s my definitive ranking of the best resistance bands to add to your gym kit.
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The best resistance bands for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Rep Fitness resistance bands: £14.99, Repfitness.com
- Budget buy – Domyos fitness resistance bands three-pack: £4.99, Decathlon.co.uk
- Best quality – Les Mills sculpt bands: £49.99, Lesmills.com
- Best for sculpting glutes – Freyja Fit glute resistance bands: £14.95, Freyjafit.co.uk
- Best for beginners – Core Balance resistance band set: £8.99, Amazon.co.uk
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Rep Fitness resistance bands
Best: resistance bands overall
Type: Long loop
Resistance options: Five
Why we love it
- Top quality layered elastic bands
- Come in a wide range of sizes and resistance levels
- Comfortable to use
Take note
- You can buy a set of five, but there’s only one set choice. Other bands need to be bought individually
These elastic resistance bands from Rep Fitness come in a range of widths and colours, starting from 3x light, offering 5-15lbs of resistance, up to X-heavy (70-175lbs).
They’re made from layered elastic and the result is a smooth, strong band that doesn’t pull or snag – a big relief to my client who complained of other bands pulling his leg hair.
The bands are sold individually or as a set of five. I like having the choice to just buy one if needed, though I’d recommend the set of five for versatility. I used the green band (40-110lbs) to help a client with her pull-ups. The support is great and the band feels solid and secure. On the other end of the scale, the yellow and red bands have been great for warm-up exercises and shoulder rehab work. The bands are comfortable in the hands and offer a range of exercise possibilities. I would have liked some more set options, but overall, for versatility, comfort, quality and value, these are my top pick.
Buy now £14.99, Repfitness.com
Domyos fitness resistance bands three-pack
Best: budget resistance bands
Type: Short resistance loops
Resistance levels: Three
Why we love it
- Come in three resistance levels
- Super affordable
- Great grip compared to other latex bands
Take note
- These only offer resistance up to 7kgs so you might need stronger if you’re a regular exerciser
At less than £5 for three, these resistance bands from Domyos offer superb value for money. They’re made of latex but unlike the Core Balance bands below on our list, they’re surprisingly grippy, and stayed put nicely around the legs for floor exercises and squats.
I used them with a new client, and the lightest band offered just the right level of resistance to encourage stability in squats, whilst the medium band (6kgs) was great for doing some gentle rotator cuff stretches for an old injury I have. They take up barely any space and would easily fit into luggage for travel. While you won’t be able to replicate every exercise with these bands, you can get a good leg workout and some upper body work in. The only drawback with them is they’re not suitable for advanced exercisers wanting to build muscle as they’re not quite strong enough.
Buy now £4.99, Decathlon.co.uk
Les Mills sculpt bands
Best: quality resistance bands
Type: Short fabric loops
Resistance levels: Three
Why we love it
- Soft fabric bands that aren’t too thick
- Great grip
- Versatile
Take note
- These are one of the more expensive options we tested
I love these bands from Les Mills, and they would have been my top pick had they not been so pricey. Like other resistance band sets, these come as a trio, labelled light, medium and heavy. The exact level of resistance isn’t listed in kgs or lbs.
The bands are fabric, but compared with other fabric bands on our list, they’re far more versatile simply because they’re not as thick. I used them for squats, but also side leg lifts on the floor, glute bridges and some shoulder mobility, while that wasn’t possible with the Freyja bands below, for example.
They’re soft but strong – they grip round the legs nicely and don’t roll or slide. The quality is clear, but I wouldn't recommend them to clients as £49.99 is a lot of money for three resistance loops and, while they are good, other, more affordable bands on the market will do the same job perfectly adequately. They just might not feel as nice on the thighs.
Buy now £49.99, Lesmills.com
Freyja Fit glute resistance bands
Best: resistance bands for sculpting glutes
Type: Short fabric loops
Resistance levels: Three
Why we love it
- Thick, wide fabric bands that don’t roll
- Three levels of resistance
- Great for leg and glute exercises
Take note
- Strong levels of resistance so not suitable for beginners
If you want to work on glute strength and size, these resistance bands from Freyja fit are the ones for you. They come in a pack of three (light, medium and heavy) and are made of strong fabric. They grip the legs well and as they’re quite wide, they don’t roll or slide.
They’re ideal for leg exercises but they do offer a lot of resistance, so bear that in mind if you’re new to exercise – you might want to try some of the latex bands on our list instead.
At £14.95 for the set, these are great value for money if you’re after a set of bands specifically for your legs and glutes.
Buy now £14.96, Freyjafit.co.uk
Core Balance resistance band set
Best: resistance bands for beginners
Type: Short latex loops
Resistance levels: Five
Why we love it
- Five bands in a set
- Resistance levels clearly marked
- Great value
Take note
- Bands will slip or roll if worn over leggings or shorts
These Core Balance resistance bands are great for anyone new to exercise. With five different levels of resistance – all clearly marked – there's lots of room for progression. Made from latex, they seem durable, but we did find they tended to roll or slip over leggings. However, they offered a great level of stability in squats and were fantastic for leg lifts and glute bridges.
I also used the lightest band with an older client for triceps and shoulder exercises as she found it kinder to her hands than gripping dumbbells. It’s a great price point for five bands, too.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon.co.uk
Les Mills smartband
Best: resistance band with handles
Type: Long resistance band with handles
Resistance levels: One
Why we love it
- Flat band for great grip
- Very comfortable handles
- Sturdy design
Take note
- Only one band offering mid-level resistance
Like the Les Mills sculpt bands, this smartband is pricey – especially since it is only one band offering one level of resistance. It is great quality; well-made and durable, though. The handles are comfortable and the band is flat, so it doesn’t slip.
There’s lots to love about it; I used it for a variety of exercises, including curls, woodchops and front raises. It’s also good for balance and core work. The resistance is suitable for beginners to intermediate exercisers.
I think it’s a lot to pay for one band, though, since you’ll also need to invest in other equipment for a more comprehensive workout as you progress. While I appreciate all it can do (it’s especially great for an assisted hamstring stretch), I’d have liked some more versatility for the price.
Buy now £49.99, Lesmills.com
Onyx resistance bands
Best: resistance bands for squats and push-up support
Type: Short fabric resistance loops
Resistance levels: Three
Why we love it
- Thick fabric – doesn't roll or slip
- Comes in a range of colours
- Great for added support in challenging moves
Take note
- The strongest band is very strong and only suitable for seasoned exercisers
Push-ups aren’t the first thing that spring to mind when talking about resistance bands but trust me when I say they help. You simply pop one band of mid-level resistance around the arms, above the elbows, and do your push-ups. The resistance offers support in lifting your body back up from the bottom of the move. These Onyx bands have been great for just that. I found the medium one was good for my beginners whilst the lighter one helped other clients move from knees to toes.
These are thick, wide fabric bands, but they’re not as dense as the Freyja ones. I felt they gave better stability in squats as you didn’t need to fight against the resistance quite as much. That said, the strongest band is still very strong, so you need to have some good leg strength to make proper use of it. They also come in a range of pleasing pastel colours.
Buy now £24.99, Onyxfitness.com
Mirafit resistance bands
Best: resistance bands for pull-ups
Type: Long resistance loops
Resistance levels: Up to six (or multiple if combining bands)
Why we love it
- Durable, strong bands
- Easily paired together for differing levels of support
Take note
- Not comfortable on the hands
If you’re looking to get your first pull-up, it’s worth investing in these bands from Mirafit. They come in a range of widths and resistance levels- though they’re simply numbered rather than having actual weights listed. I tested bands one and two. When I stretched them both across the J-hooks on a squat rack, they offered the perfect level of support for my feet so I could do several assisted pull-ups.
At home, I looped one band over my pullup bar and hooked one foot in. Again, I could rep out several pull-ups this way.
The bands are great quality and very durable. They’re also suitable for other exercises such as chest openers, but they’re not the most comfortable on the hands for extended periods of time.
Buy now £8.99, Mirafit.co.uk
What is the best resistance band?
For quality, variety, comfort and value, the Reps Fitness resistance bands come out on top. The set of five delivers a comprehensive set to enhance any workout plan. Our favourite resistance loops are the Les Mills sculpt bands, despite their price tag, while the Domyos set from Decathlon offer the best value.
How I tested resistance bands
I tested each of the resistance bands in my own workouts and with clients of mixed abilities. I incorporated the bands into warmups, main workouts and also used them for stretching and rehab work. Because the bands vary in style, what I did with them also varied. Longer bands (or loops) were used for assisted pull-ups and warm-up stretches; fabric loops were used for squats and push-up support; latex loops were used for rehab exercises; and resistance tubes were used for muscle building exercises (upper and lower body). With each set of bands tested, I was looking for the following:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Becky Fuller is an fully qualified personal trainer, experienced fitness instructor and founder of her training page Workoutwoman.co.uk. Her expertise lies in strength and conditioning for over 50s and helping people to become stronger both in body and mind. She draws on this experience while testing resistance bands, so you can trust her verdict.
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